PM Modi speaks to EU President and European leaders; expresses anguish over humanitarian crisis in Ukraine

PM Modi emphasized the efforts being made by India to send urgent relief supplies, including medicines, to Ukraine

March 2, 2022

PM Modi reiterates India’s appeal to return to dialogue; speaks to European leaders, EU President

Amid the Russia-Ukraine crisis, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday evening spoke with the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and expressed his anguish over the deteriorating situation and humanitarian crisis in war-hit Ukraine. PM Modi said it is important to ensure free and uninterrupted humanitarian access and smooth movement of people.

PM Modi reiterated India’s appeal for cessation of hostilities and a return to dialogue. The PM also stressed that the contemporary global order is anchored on international law, the UN Charter, and respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all the nations.

PM Modi also emphasized the efforts being made by India to send urgent relief supplies, including medicines, to Ukraine.

An official statement from the PMO said, “The Prime Minister stressed that the contemporary global order was anchored on international law, UN Charter, and respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty of all states. He welcomed the talks between the two parties and stressed the importance of ensuring free and uninterrupted humanitarian access and smooth movement of all people.”

Meanwhile, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel took to Twitter to express the loss of Indian life amid the Ukraine crisis. He tweeted, “I expressed my condolences to PMO India for the loss of life of an Indian student in Kharkiv today due to indiscriminate Russian attacks against innocent civilians.” He tweeted further, “The attacks on Ukraine aim to destroy multilateralism and cause pain and suffering. The world must unite in defence of international law.”

I expressed my condolences to @PMOIndia for the loss of life of an Indian student in #Kharkiv today due to indiscriminate Russian attacks against innocent civilians.

European countries 🇵🇱🇭🇺🇸🇰🇲🇩🇺🇦🇪🇺are wholeheartedly helping Indian citizens to evacuate from #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/VzG3OX3o47

— Charles Michel (@eucopresident) March 1, 2022

Prime Minister also spoke to French President Emmanuel Macron, Polish President Andrzej Duda, and European Council President Charles Michel amid a worsening situation in Ukraine as the Russian forces moved deeper into the country. An Indian student also lost his life in shelling during the Russian advance.

PM Modi thanked Polish President Andrzej Duda for the assistance provided by Poland in the evacuation of Indian citizens from Ukraine and for the special gesture of relaxing the visa requirement for the Indian citizens crossing over to the country from Ukraine.

The Indian Air Force’s aircrafts are set off to bring back Indian citizens stranded in Ukraine said Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said on Tuesday evening. Over the next three days, 26 IAF flights have been scheduled to operate.

Expressing deep concerns over the developments in Ukraine, Shringla said that so far, 12,000 Indians have left Ukraine, which is about 60 percent of total Indians present in Ukraine. He also confirmed that no Indian is stranded in Kiev as of now. He further added that Indian nationals have been advised to head to the western parts of Ukraine and exit from there whenever they can.

As there is a further escalation of the war, the Indian Embassy and several other embassies are moving their operations to Lviv amid intensified bombings.

[With Inputs from IANS]

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